Anemia Overview

A 26 year-old woman presents to her primary care physician with 4 months of fatigue. She reports feeling tired throughout the day and exercise intolerance. On review of symptoms, she reports menorrhagia. On exam, she is mildly tachycardic with pale skin and conjunctiva.

Introduction

Defined as deficiency in circulating RBC mass

Several types

microcytic

MCV < 80

seen in disorders of hemoglobin metabolism

normocytic

MCV 80-100

seen in disorders of RBC production or destruction

macrocytic

MCV > 100

seen in folate, B12 deficiency

Presentation

Symptoms

weakness/fatigue

dyspnea

headache/lightheadedness

angina

Presentation

tachycardia

pale conjunctiva/skin

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